PURPOSE To evaluate of clinical results and malunion according to nail insertion site and early ambulation after unreamed interlocking intramedullary nailing for the treatment of tibial fractures, MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 46 tibial fractures that were treated with unreamed static intramedullary nailing prospectively from March 1997 to May 2001. Nail insertion site and angulation of fracture site were reviewed by radiograph. All of 46 cases, ambulation was started at postoperative 2 weeks, and then clinical outcomes were reveiwed RESULTS: In all 46 cases, union was achieved at average 18.2 weeks clinically and average 19.4 weeks radiographically. There is no significant difference in angulation according to nail insertion site, i,.e. after central/medial/lateral insertion, outcome was 2 . 4 5 degrees +/-2 . 1 7 / 2 . 2 2 degrees +/-1 . 8 4 / 1 . 7 3 degrees +/-1.33(p; 0.705) in last follow up anterioposterior view, and 1.81 degrees +/-1 . 1 3 / 2 . 6 7 degrees +/-1 . 6 2 / 2 . 0 0 degrees +/-1.64(p; 0.320) in last follow up lateral view. No breakage of intramedullary nails and no stiffness on adjacent joints. CONCLUSION We confirmed that unreamed interlocking nailing in tibial fractures is one of the effective method for low recurrence of malunion and early ambulation
The current trend in the use of the unreamed intramedullary nail to avoid the increased damage to the intramedullary blood supply may be theoretically attractive for femoral shaft fracture stabilization but little clinical and radiological attention was reported. We have evaluated the results of treatment of femoral shaft fracture with unreamed interlocking intramedullary nail. Thirty-eight femoral fractures have been followed for more than twelve months were included in this study. Most of the fractures were the result of moderate to high-energy trauma. Thirty-three cases were fresh closed fracture and five were open fractures. Winquist-Hansen type I fracture (16 cases) were most common and healing period was shorter than other type. Healing occurred in 35 cases and mean healing period was 18.7 weeks with a range of 11 to 32 weeks. Postoperative complications were delayed union in 3 cases. We concluded that unreamed interlocking nailing for femoral shaft fracture seems to be a useful method with low complication rate.